My stepsister

Episode3

"You little f*****g b***h!" Angel roars as

I'm shoved into the house.

My family home used to be filled with love and laughter before Papà and alpha , Angel mother, died. Now, it's filled with hopelessness and violence.

Angels palm connects with the back of my head, and stumbling, I lose my balance. I sprawl over the wooden floor that takes hours to polish, intense pain shuddering through my brain.

My handbag slides beneath a side table, and before I can push myself up, angels foot connects with my right side.

My teeth sink into my bottom lip to keep the cry of pain from escaping.

The first time he hit me, I was left with a black eye. I couldn't leave the house for two weeks. Everyone at the Parish asked where

I was, and it upset Angel . Since then, she doesn't touch my face.

"Because of you, I only have a month to find a f**k-ton of money! I'll have to take a chunk out of my stocks."

Another kick to my stomach makes the air explode from my lungs. My vision goes spotty, and an agonizing sound bursts over my lips.

I feel tears fall down my cheeks as I gasp through the pain.

It doesn't help to beg or argue. If I dare say a word, it will only anger Angel more. I manage to curl into a fetal position and wrap my arms around my waist.

Angel shoves her boot against my back and puts his full weight on me as he sneers,

"One of these days, I'm going to kill you."

The pressure eases off my back, and I hear her stomp into the living room.

Bastard.

Pushing myself up, I suppress a groan from the pain radiating through my abdomen and torso. I don't bother grabbing my bag from beneath the side table, and using the wall for support, I stumble to my bedroom.

Shutting the door behind me, I make sure to lock it, and finally, in my safe space, I slide down to the floor until I'm sitting flat on my butt.

Silent tears roll down my cheeks, and I don't bother wiping them away.

Just two more years.

Still, it feels like an eternity. Is the money even worth it?

Maybe I can run away in the middle of the night and find a small town where I can work as a waiter?

Keep dreaming. You don't have a dime to your name. Are you going to walk to the small town?

Feeling trapped and hopeless, I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around my shins.

God, I miss Papà. I don't remember much of Mamma, but I know I look like her.

I was the apple of Papà's eye until the day he died. Even when he married alpha things didn't change. I thought I was the luckiest boy for getting a loving stepmother and big stepsister . Things were so good until they passed away.

It felt like my life went from sunny to thunderous in the blink of an eye, and the storm hasn't stopped. If anything, things just keep getting more volatile.

Angel pounds her fist against my bedroom door, making me startle. "Go clean the mess in the living room!"

Closing my eyes, I swallow the tears down before answering, "I'm coming."

Thear him stomp away, and pulling myself up, I unlock the door and open it. I peek down the hallway and see angel's door slam shut.

SHe moved into our parents' bedroom a month after they were buried. I thought she was being disrespectful, and when I mentioned it to him, she slapped me so hard it felt like my teeth rattled. SHe said he deserved the main bedroom now that she was the head of the family.

After the first time Angel hit me, I cried my eyes out. I couldn't understand why she changed so much, but with time, I realized she was always evil and just hid it from our parents.

I dart across the hall to my bathroom and grab a couple of pills to help with the dull ache in my side.

Walking to the living room, I stop by the side table to pick up my bag. I set it down on one of the couches before seeing pieces of shattered glass scattered on the floor and whiskey trickling down the wall.

Letting out a sigh, I head to the kitchen to get everything l'll need to clean the mess Angel made.

You can hold out for two more years. You need your inheritance so you can make a fresh start somewhere else.

I collect all the pieces of glass and throw them in the trash before wiping down the wall.

When I'm done with the chore, I walk back to the kitchen.

It's my favorite place in the world. I love baking and cooking. Needing to take my mind off the crap I'm dealing with, I start to make apple pies for the coffee hour we always have after Mass.

While I peel one apple after the other, the tension slowly drains from my body, and the painkillers lessen the ache in my side.

Cutting the apples into slices, I dream about meeting a loving woman man in whatever small town I move to. We'll have a white-picket fence around our house. Maybe two or four kids and a dog.

I'll be a stay-at-home mom, making sure my wife has a delicious dinner waiting when she returns from work.

l'll be far from angel and the aloha and with time, I'll even forget they exist.

After Sunday Mass, I hurry to the tables where everyone gathers for tea and coffee and quickly switch on the urns.

It's been two weeks since the incident happened . Angel seems to be on edge about the money she owes Mr. tello and has taken her stress out on me. SHe even tried to get me to sign a document stating she would be my beneficiary should I die ?.

Shaking my head, I still can't believe she thinks I'm so stupid that I'd sign my own death warrant. I know the moment I sign that document, she'll get rid of me. Angel wants my money, and she'll kill to get it.

With the danger increasing by the day, l'm not sure I can hold out for another two years, but I don't know what else to do.

If I go to Aunt Mary , Angel will find me there. It will place her in a horrible position because she and the rest of my family are bound to the laws of the alphas .

Even if I ask her for money so I can run away, she will get in trouble for aiding me.

Nothing happens without the alphas knowing about it.

Feeling miserable, I let out a sigh.

"Did you bring three pies?" Rose asks as she joins me behind the tables.

I force a friendly smile to my face. "Yes, but there seems to be more people than usual."

"Keep a slice for mother France ."

Nodding, I take the pies from their containers and place a slice on a plate.

Rose prepares a cup of tea, and while she takes the beverage and pie to mother France , I begin to help the parishioners who are already milling around the table. I keep smiling and greeting everyone, and soon, the rush passes, and l'm able to pour myself a cup of coffee.

My head is lowered when I hear a voice rumble, "Morning, Vikky ."

My eyes snap up, and I accidentally pour hot water over my hand. "Ouch!"

"Are you okay?" Rose asks while Mrs . tello , who's scared the living hell out of me, rushes around the table.

When she gets close to me, my mouth instantly goes dry, and my heart sets off at a wild pace. Rosa darts to the end of the table to get away from us and cautiously watches Mr. telloo.

Not a single soul here will dare go against

Angelo Rizzo.

He grabs a dishcloth from the table, and taking hold of my hand, he pats my skin dry before inspecting the red spot.

My eyebrows fly up, and my lips part in shock.

Her voice is still a low rumble as she mutters,

"it doesn't look too bad.

You need to be more careful when working with boiling water."

With eyes as wide as the saucers on the table, I stare at Angel tello as if she's lost her mind. Does she actually care about me burning my hand?

Her gaze snaps to mine, and just like before, I feel the punch of his brutal gaze.

I pull my hand free from her, and swallowing hard, I ask, "Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"

Her eyes narrow on me for an unnerving moment before she slowly shakes his head.

"Come with me."

What?

Feeling nervous as hell, my tongue darts out to wet my lips. "Where?"

Without answering, he turns around and proceeds to leave the building with Tiny and Big mart right behind him.

I've never seen Mrs tello at Masscom before, so this can't be good. I can feel the other parishioners' eyes on me, but I know none of them will step in to help me. Confused and scared, I reluctantly follow after the woman.

There are overgrown gardens at the front and sides of the cathedral, and at the back is a very old cemetery.

My stomach turns to lead as I follow the three women to the back, but I keep a safe distance as Mrs tello looks at the weather-worn tombstones.

I wrap my arms around myself, and as the silence stretches, my body begins to tremble.

Father, don't let this man kill me on holy ground. Actually, don't let him kill me at all.

After the longest minutes of my life, Mrs

Tello tips his head at Tiny and Big mart .

My fear multiplies when his two guard dogs wander off to give us some privacy.

A breeze picks up, making the fabric of my dress billow around my legs. My hands slap down against my sides, and I quickly grab fistfuls of the fabric to keep it in place.

When she still doesn't say anything, I ask with a quivering voice, "Why did you want me to come with you?"

With one hand in a pocket and the other lifting to rub over his jaw, his eyes narrow on me again.

Jesus, I'm going to die of a nervous breakdown if she doesn't speak soon.

A frown forms on her forehead then he says,

"You look tired."

Wow, what a way to say I look terrible.

Feeling self-conscious after her comment, I gave her a frown of my own while shaking my head. "Honestly, this is nerve-wracking.

Can you please tell me why you want to

speak to me?"

Keep your mouth shut, Torera

Maybe it's because I feel so trapped and scared all the time that l'm starting to slip up.

I must imagine it, but the corner of his mouth almost lifts in a smile before returning to the usual grim line. It was only for a split second.

Mrs tello steps closer to me, her body moving like a wolf that's stalking his prey.

Intense fear ripples through me, and my breathing speeds up.

When she stops in front of me, she tilts her head and locks eyes with me. "Your sister paid me a visit yesterday."

"Stepsister," I correct him.

I hate it when people refer to Angel as my sister

Mrs tello right eyebrow lifts, and I quickly Mrs tello's right eyebrow lifts, and I quickly apologize, "I didn't mean to interrupt you,

Ma”

"You can call me tello ."

I've never heard anyone call her by her first name.

Caught off guard, I blink at her .

SHe folds his arms over his chest and looks downright terrifying as she stares at me.

"Angel has informed me you're untouched."

What. The. Hell?

I continue to blink at her as my face goes up in flames, and embarrassment sets my insides on fire.